Russia awakes to biggest attack on Russian soil since World War II
The biggest attack on Russian soil since the Second World War continues as waves of attack drones continue to fall on Russian oil refineries, military bases, and security services for a second straight day.
At least 60 drones were spotted over not less than seven Russian regions overnight on March 13, with at least seven more in a morning wave, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced.
Read also: Drone damages FSB building in Belgorod amid mass drone attacks across Russia
A major oil refinery is ablaze in Ryazan, military bases were targeted in Voronezh, and an FSB building was damaged in Belgorod as multiple waves of drones continue to fall in regions across Russia.
A missile threat was also reported by the Governor of Kursk Oblast.
The waves of drones are a continuation of attacks on March 12 that saw Russia deal with at least 25 drones over nine regions that struck at least two oil facilities.
Russia claims to have “intercepted and destroyed” 58 of 60 attack drones in an overnight wave targeting the following regions:
Read also: Russia wakes up to another oil refinery ablaze for second straight day — photos, video
Belgorod Oblast - 11 drones
Bryansk Oblast - 8 drones
Voronezh Oblast - 29 drones
Kursk Oblast - 8 drones
Leningrad Oblast - 1 drone
Ryazan Oblast - 1 drone
The report does not mention Lipetsk Oblast, where a UAV was also reported flying at night.
At least seven “Ukrainian UAVs” (unmanned aerial vehicles) were part of a morning wave, including 6 targeting Voronezh Oblast and another over Belgorod Oblast, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed.
Oil refinery ablaze in Ryazan
At least four drones attacked the oil refinery in Ryazan, injuring three people and setting two oil processing units on fire, reported propaganda agency RIA Novosti, citing a representative of the emergency services.
The 175-square-meter blaze has reportedly been extinguished.
“The fire at the Ryazan oil refinery has been extinguished,” Ryazan Oblast Governor, Pavel Malkov claimed.
Military bases targeted in Voronezh
A Russian Air Force base in Buturlinovka and a military airfield in Voronezh were targeted in the mass wave of air strikes, an informed source told NV on March 13.
It is believed that the strike was organized by Ukraine’s SBU security service with other representatives of the Defense Forces, the source told NV.
The consequences of the attack are still being clarified.
Part of the city of Voronezh was blocked, including the Southwest Market, after a drone attack, while another community in the region was left partly without electricity.
Some districts in Buturlinovka are experiencing power outages following a drone attack, local outlet ASTRA reported.
Russian oil refineries remain primary targets
Read also: Ukrainian military intelligence comments on mass overnight drone onslaught on Russian territory
Major oil refineries in three Russian regions were the main targets of the overnight attack organized by the SBU, a source told NV.
“Our task is to deprive the enemy of resources,” he said.
Large oil refineries in Ryazan, Kstovo (Nizhy Novgorod Oblast), and Kirishi (Leningrad Oblast) – all among Russia’s five largest – were targeted in the mass drone attack, he said.
Judging by videos published online, the consequences of the attack were significant, he added.
The attacks are a continuation of a series of special operations against enemy refineries that the SBU had previously launched, the source said.
“We are systematically implementing a well-calculated strategy to reduce the economic potential of the Russian Federation,” the source added.
“Our task is to deprive the enemy of resources and reduce the flow of oil money and fuel that Russia directs straight to the war and the killing of our citizens.”
Oil refinery in Leningrad Oblast targeted
The KINEF oil refinery in Kirishi was the target of a drone attack, though Russian authorities claim to have intercepted the vehicle.
The “fixed-wing” vehicle was shot down on approach, Leningrad Oblast Governor, Alexander Drozdenko, claimed on Telegram.
“Production is operating normally,” he said.
“There were no casualties or damage. Responders have contained and cleared the crash site.”
Read also: Russian Defense Ministry recognizes rebel attacks on Belgorod, Kursk oblasts, but claims to repel
FSB building damaged in Belgorod
An FSB building in Belgorod had its façade damaged and windows shattered in a drone strike, Russian propaganda outlet TASS claimed, citing operational services. No one was injured, the outlet alleged.
Bryansk
At least eight drones targeted three centers in Bryansk Oblast, regional governor Alexander Bogomaz, claimed.
“There are no casualties or damage” after the vehicles were destroyed over three districts in the region, he claimed.
Lipetsk
Attack drones were spotted over Lipetsk Oblast, regional governor Igor Artamonov claimed.
“Unmanned aerial vehicles are approaching the region from the direction of Ukraine,” he wrote at 5:37 MSK, adding that he was receiving “information about possible UAV strikes near Lipetsk and Lipetsk district.”
Several communities without power in Belgorod Oblast
A gas supply line was damaged in the village of Bogoslovka in a drone attack, Belgorod Oblast Governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, claimed. Power lines were damaged near the village of Krugloye, leaving residents of Krugloye and Zalomnoye without power.
Read also: Russia reports drone attack on oil depot in Kursk
Two UAVs were eliminated near the village of Serebryanka in the Novooskolsky urban district, he claimed.
The town of Shebekino came under fire as “some of the shells landed in the industrial zone”, and an employee of an industrial enterprise was injured, he added. ⠀
During the shelling, windows were shattered in several apartments and “smoke” was seen on the grounds of an industrial enterprise. A power line was damaged.
Residents of Shebekino, the village of Novaya Tavolzhanka and Maslovaya Pristan are without electricity.
Missile threat in Kursk Oblast
Air defenses in Kursk Oblast were kept busy as at least six drones were eliminated in multiple waves of overnight attacks, Kursk Oblast Governor, Roman Starovoit, claimed.
He warned oblast residents of a missile threat at 3:24 MSK, adding that air defenses in the region were still working.
“According to preliminary information, there are no casualties,” Gladkov claimed.
“A barn is burning in one private household. Emergency services have arrived at the scene.”
Continuation of March 12 attack
The biggest attack on Russian soil since the Second World War began overnight on March 11-12 when at least 25 UAVs targeted at least nine Russian oblasts.
Read also: Drone strike on oil depot in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod Oblasts causes Lukoil to suspend operations
Early waves of drones targeted Russia’s oil infrastructure, damaging oil depots in Orel and Nizhny Novgorod oblasts.
A city administration building in Belgorod was also damaged.
Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) was behind the attack on the Lukoil oil refinery in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, an NV source in the special services said.
“This work will be continued,” pledged Andriy Yusov, a representative of Ukraine’s military intelligence.
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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
